Strong winds in Russia ignited fires caused by downed power lines and negligence in many settlements in the southern part of the Rostov region, announced the governor of the region Vasiliy Golubev, quoted by Reuters and BTA.
Since the beginning of the day, authorities have registered more than 50 fires, 30 of which remain active. Several fires have spread to residential areas, prompting partial evacuations.
More than 2,000 firefighters and nearly 300 pieces of equipment were involved in efforts to contain the fires.
Rostov region is a key agricultural region. It produced more than 11% of Russia's total grain harvest last year. However, the region faced early spring frosts and subsequent drought in 2024, leading to an expected 30% reduction in this year's crop compared to 2023, Reuters said.